The Mayor's Newsletter
TAUNTON HIGH SCHOOL-PARKER MIDDLE SCHOOL
APPROPRIATION INFORMATION
( Please find below the contents of a letter sent to the Taunton Municipal Council on July 23, 2009 reminding them of theactual votes taken to approve the funding for the Taunton High School- Parker Middle School Project)
July 23, 2009
Council President David W. Pottier
Members of the Taunton Municipal Council
Dear Council President Pottier
On Tuesday July 21, 2009, the City Council’s Public Property Committee held a meeting with school officials as well as members of the School Building Committee to get an update on the Taunton High School/ Parker School Project. As I indicated to you in response to some of your questions, the Taunton High School/ Parker School project began in or around 2001. In the fall of 2006, then-Mayor Nunes met with Katherine Craven of the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA) to petition her agency to increase the level of reimbursement of 83% from the original figure of $66 million dollars to $112 million dollars. That request was approved.
In the spring of 2007, the Taunton Municipal Council voted to place on the ballot a debt exclusion vote that read as follows: “Shall the City of Taunton be allowed to exempt from the provisions of proposition two and one-half, so-called, the amounts required to pay for the bond issued in order to complete the construction and repairs to the Taunton High School and Parker School Project.” That question was approved by the voters of Taunton.
The question came up at the Tuesday, July 21, 2009, meeting of the City Council as what was the amount that was authorized to be spent on the Taunton High School/ Parker School Project. I wanted to bring to your attention the following information so that you can determine what the actual amounts of money that was authorized for the project so that the city council will no longer be confused over this issue.
On May 15, 2001, the Taunton Municipal Council voted unanimously (nine members present) “to appropriate $52,500,000.00 for the remodeling, reconstruction and making extraordinary repairs to the Taunton High School; that to meet this appropriation, the Treasurer with the approval of the mayor is authorized to borrow $52,500,000.00 under G.L.c.44S7(3) or G.L. c70B or any other enabling authority; that the Mayor is authorized to contract for and expend any federal or state aid available for this project; and that the Mayor is authorized to take any other action necessary to carry out this project.”
In addition to that, On the same day May 15, 2001, The Taunton Municipal Council voted unanimously (nine members present) to approve the following order: “$13,750,000.00 is appropriated, for the construction and furnishing of a new Parker Middle School; that to meet this appropriation, the Treasurer with the approval of the Mayor is authorized to borrow $13,750,000.00 under G.L.c.44S7(3) or G.L. c70B or any other enabling authority; that the Mayor is authorized to contract for and expend any federal or state aid available for this project; and that the Mayor is authorized to take any other action necessary to carry out this project.”
Also, On April 8, 2008 The Taunton Municipal Council voted unanimously (eight members present) to approve the following order: “$46,600,000.00 is appropriated, in addition to the $66,250,000.00 ($52,500.000.00 plus $13,750,000.00) previously appropriated for the construction, reconstruction, remodeling, equipping, furnishing and making extraordinary repairs to the Taunton High School and the new Parker Middle School; that to meet this appropriation, the Treasurer with the approval of the Mayor is authorized to borrow $46,600,000.00 under G.L.c.44S7(3) or G.L. c70B or any other enabling authority; that the Mayor is authorized to contract for and expend any federal or state aid available for this project; and that the Mayor is authorized to take any other action necessary to carry out this project.”
Therefore, the up –to-date accurate amount of money that has been authorized by the Taunton Municipal Council to expend on the Taunton High School/Parker Middle School Project is $112,850,000.00.
Respectfully,
Charles Crowley, Mayor
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Debt Exclusion Tax Bill Calculation
In June of 2007, the citizens of Taunton approved a Debt Exclusion for the $104 million dollar renovation and construction of the Taunton High School and Parker Middle School Project. There have been many citizens who have inquired as to how they could calculate what the additional amount is on their tax bill as a result of the debt exclusion vote.
The formula is as follows:
(The total amount on your tax bill multiplied by .020857)
For example: If the total amount on your tax bill is $2,650 the calculation is:
$2,650 times .020857= $ 55.27
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